Sunday, April 13

Beautiful Bones: An Osteoporosis Food Event

Since I started this blog in January 2007, I have shared a lot of things about myself. One thing I haven’t shared is that I have osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) osteoporosis is "a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break."

I’m not a senior citizen; that really is me in pictured to the right. But as I discovered last summer, you can be an otherwise totally healthy woman in her (let's say 30's) and still have osteoporosis.

Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, 8 million are women. In fact, osteoporosis is actually believed to be under-diagnosed which means there are likely many more women who are unknowingly afflicted with it. It is sometimes discovered by an astute internist (which is what happened to me) but unfortunately is often discovered after fracturing a bone (which happens to many women).

Being of a particular race/ethnicity such as Caucasian, Asian, or Latino, although African-Americans are also at risk

Low Body Mass Index (BMI) (being thin and small)

Lack of calcium and vitamin D, especially in childhood (this can be a real problem for lactose intolerant people)**

Lack of exercise

Smoking

Alcohol abuse

Certain conditions such as anorexia nervosa and asthma

** Amazingly, 90% of adult bone mass is acquired in girls by the age of 18! That means that after 18, you have only 10% of your bone mass that you can still build.

I have decided to host a food blogging event to alert women to the potential risks of osteoporosis and encourage them to take steps to protect their bones at every age. I am sure that I am not the only food blogga who has osteoporosis and was not aware of it.

During the month of May, I’ll write several posts for this event, sharing information about osteoporosis with you and providing a recipe with each post.

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments you may have in the comment box or email me directly at foodblogga [at] yahoo [dot] com. I'm looking forward to your bone-building, delicious submissions!

I hope you are doing ok with it; I honestly don't know much about it or how treatable it is. This is a great idea for an event, and I'm guessing a lot of people don't know much about what foods are high in calcium. May is a bit crazy around here with last month of school and first month of garden, but I'll really try to participate.

What a fantastic idea for an event. One of my grandmothers was badly affected by osteoporosis and was almost literally bent double by the time she died. Her daughters (my aunts) have had to take supplements for years - so I guess I, too, should be on high alert. Sadly, I have no kitchen at the moment, so can't participate - but I'll be checking in to see the results for sure.

Honestly, I worry that I may have this. I am a very small person and while growing up we weren't very well off and most of my diet consisted of ramen noodles...I'll be posting a few calicium filled recipes for sure. Great post!

Osteoporosis is something I also worry for... In fact I had a good diet till 18, and no osteoporosis in my family history as I know, but I thinnk everyone -every woman- must be aware of risks.Therefor I do thank you for this event, Susan. And this is something so specail that you share your situation, and try to help others as well. I do respect...I've been a bit busy for the last week, and will be busy then, but I really want to take part on this event.Thanks again Sue...Best wishes...

It's shocking that you have osteoporosis - you're so young. However, I'm happy to see that you are bringing this affliction to our attention. Your food event will open my our eyes & the recipes will compliment our awareness. Thank you!

Wonderful event, Susan! People are not aware about the prevalence of this condition, but also don't realize that is it painful, too. Hope you are taking good care of yourself and not only getting calcium, but also magnesium and Vitamin d...they work together.Hugs, Elle

I hope you're doing okay, Susan! I've been thinking I should explore bones more ever since I tripped over my pajamas and had a hairline fracture in the foot three months ago (which I thought was just a sprain) - the pain doesn't go away.

Thanks for sharing this with us Susan and hope that everything will turn okay for you as it did for my husband. Most people think that osteoporosis affects only women. That is wrong. Maybe the percentage is bigger for women but after a major operation, and staying in bed for more than two months, my husband had osteoporosis and lots of pain in his thighs. Thank God his is much better now. You can count me in as well.

my mom suffers from osteoporosis and she's having such a tough time taking even her morning walks! and I'm pretty sure I'll inherit that from here as my knees are already weak:( but this is a great way to promote awareness, and I'll surely participate Susan!

What an excellent idea. My mom had 100 other things wring with her but ironically her bone density was fabulous. I hope that I've inherited some of her genes but I do know I'm lacking in the exercise department... My best friend is in the early stages of the disease and has regular bone scans, so it's a cause that's close to my heart too. Kudos to you for drawing attention to this.

Ai, Susan, the 1st of May is tomorrow!!! I wanted to participate so much... but didn't notice tomorrow is the last day and I don't have the post ready :( I'm sorry because I said I would... hope you don't take it bad, maybe next time... sorry again.

Although now, I can't remember how I stumbled across your blog, I'm SO glad I did. Mainly because of your osteoporosis event. Your blog is delightful as well, but it was this that prompted me to post a comment.

I'm a nutrition therapist specializing in celiac disease (also exercise science). Osteoporosis and anemia are two of the most common adult presentations of celiac disease. Often people with osteoporosis don't realize they have celiac and are not absorbing their calcium (among other problems). I won't blah, blah about this on your blog, but I want to be involved because of my interest in osteoporosis from a different angle. People with celiac often have issues with dairy products (long story) as well, so they have to obtain calcium from other sources.

Sorry, I could really launch into this, but I'll spare you for now. I just wanted to introduce myself, say hello, and let you know I'm IN with your event. The odd thing with all this is that May is also Celiac Awareness month in most of the world -- except here in the US. We're a bit behind as far as mainstream medicine's understanding of celiac, but we're catching up. There is legislation to make May our awareness month too, so we have lots of reasons to spread the word about osteoporosis this month!

In good health,MelissaP.S. I recently did a post on calcium-rich plant foods with a whole list of things (got milk?).

Food blogging events are a terrific way to raise awareness of important issues. Thanks for hosting this one. I write from Wisconsin - America's Dairyland, so I'll definitely be participating. After all, cows and calcium go together!

Hello! Enjoying your blog and will be making the recipe for Tres Leches cupcakes Beatiful Bones. What a wonderful phrase. I am Aleli Soliman and was diagnosed with Lupus - An autoimmune disease that also does attack the bones. But I refuse to be a victim of it and follow my heart and passion for baking. Thank you for the inspiration!